Toothbrush with improved handle

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush with a handle that provides both over insertion protection and good first gripping. The handle has a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, which together form a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and define an aperture. The generally straight portion has a region with a wavy surface inside the aperture and a wavy surface outside the aperture. The inside wavy surface has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and the outside wavy surface has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a toothbrush, and more particularly, a toothbrush with an improved handle that provides both over insertion protection and good first gripping.

BACKGROUND

Of interest are Canadian Patent No. 2,261,355 (Aug. 10, 2000) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,233 (Dec. 25, 20), both to Proulx. Both disclose toothbrushes that have a handle with defined resilient finger tip engagable areas on each of respective opposite top and bottom faces of the handle.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,546 (Sep. 18, 2001) and Design U.S. Pat. No. D428,257 (Jul. 18, 2000), both to Harada, show a toothbrush that has an open C-shaped handle mechanically coupled to the head, which has a specific array of bristles. According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,546, the C-shape of the handle provides over-insertion protection and the specific array of bristles provides increased likelihood that the teeth will be properly brushed.

Also of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,921 (Apr. 7, 1987) to Dinner, which shows a toothbrush with a handle that includes an oval ring defining an oval aperture, sized for a young child's four fingers for first gripping a half portion of the oval ring.

Similar to Dinner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,739 (Apr. 29, 1997) to Thompson shows a toothbrush with a handle forming a closed aperture in the approximate shape of a semi-circle, curved on one side and straight on the other, sized for a young child's four fingers allowing first gripping. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,739, the straight portion of the handle is covered with a resilient material with small soft protrusions to ensure secure first gripping.

Lastly of interest is Design U.S. Pat. No. D490,983 (Jun. 8, 2004) to Tini, which shows a toothbrush with a handle that includes an oval ring defining an oval aperture.

The disclosures of all patents, which are mentioned here, are incorporated here by reference.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a toothbrush comprising a handle, a bridge, and a brush head. The handle is of rigid construction and has a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture. The generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and wherein the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area. The brush head has an array of bristles affixed to the brush head.

Furthermore, the present invention provides, in another embodiment, a toothbrush comprising a handle, a bridge, and a brush head. The handle is of generally rigid construction and has a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture. The generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and wherein the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area. The brush head has an array of bristles affixed to the brush head. The toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle, the bridge, and the brush head. Typically, the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 45 mm to about 60 mm for an adult's toothbrush and from about 25 mm to about 35 mm for a child's toothbrush.

Additionally, the present invention provides, in yet another embodiment, a toothbrush comprising a handle, a bridge, and a brush head. The handle is of generally rigid construction and has a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture. The generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture. The generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and wherein the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area. The brush head has an array of bristles affixed to the brush head. The toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle and the bridge, and the toothbrush has the brush head angled from approximately 100 to approximately 20° with respect to the longitudinal axis. Typically, the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 45 mm to about 60 mm for an adult's toothbrush and from about 25 mm to about 35 mm for a child's toothbrush.

The invention is now discussed in connection with the accompanying Figures as best described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view depicting one embodiment of the inventive toothbrush, having a handle that includes an aperture;

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the inventive toothbrush similar to that depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the inventive toothbrush like that depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, but having a head that is slightly angled;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the inventive toothbrush and showing one variation of the shape of the sides of the handle portion;

FIG. 5 is another bottom plan view of the inventive toothbrush and showing another variation of the shape of the sides of the handle portion; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the inventive toothbrush.

DESCRIPTION

As used here, certain terminology is for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For instance, words such as “inside surface,” “outside surface,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” horizontal,” “vertical,” “back,” “front,” “upward,” and “downward” merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. It is understood that the components may be in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

With reference now to the Figures, whenever possible, the same reference numerals and letters are used throughout to refer to the same or like parts.

More specifically, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are two respective embodiments of the inventive toothbrush generally indicated as 10, and comprising a handle 20, a bridge 30, and a brush head 40. An array of bristles B is affixed to the brush head 40. For purposes of discussion, and as is conventional in the art, the surface of the toothbrush 10 having the bristles B corresponds to the bottom of the toothbrush 10 and the other surface of the toothbrush 10 corresponds to the top of the toothbrush 10. Also, the toothbrush 10 has a longitudinal axis, going from the end of the toothbrush 10 having the brush head 40 to the opposite end of the toothbrush 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, for storage of the toothbrush 10, optionally, the toothbrush 10 may be provided, at its longitudinal end opposite from the end having the brush head 40, with a storage means chosen from one or both of an opening OP or a tail 45, where the opening OP is adapted for hanging the toothbrush 10 by receiving a hook, such as that on a conventional suction cup for attaching the hook/suction cup to the bathroom room mirror, and where the tail 45 is adapted for placing the toothbrush 10 in a hole of a conventional toothbrush holder, and typically the tail 45 is about 5 to about 7.5 cm long. Although the opening OP and the tail 45 are not shown in the other Figures, the opening OP and/or the tail 45 may be provided for the other toothbrushes 10 illustrated in the other Figures.

The array of bristles B is affixed to the brush head 40 by any means known in the art, such as embedding or anchoring the base ends of the bristles B, in accordance with well known toothbrush manufacturing techniques. Typically, the array of bristles B is affixed on the brush head 40 on the bottom of the toothbrush 10, but some bristles B of the array may be affixed along the sides of the brush head 40, thus extending the array of bristles B somewhat towards the sides of the toothbrush 10, in accordance with well known toothbrush manufacturing techniques.

Typically, the handle 20, the bridge 30 (also called the stem or the neck), and the brush head 40 are comprised of conventional moldable synthetic polymeric material, i.e., rigid plastic, to form a rigid toothbrush 10, as is known in the art. The handle 20, the bridge 30, and the brush head 40 are typically of unitary, integral construction, as illustrated in the Figures. Alternatively (not shown), as is known in the art, the handle 20, the bridge 30, and the brush head 40 may be two or more separate pieces that snap together for use of the toothbrush 10, and that snap apart for ease of packing the toothbrush 10, for instance, packing in a suitcase in order to go on a trip. Also alternatively (not shown), as is known in the art, the handle 20, the bridge 30, and the brush head 40 may be two or more separate pieces that are hinged together such that the hinge(s) can be placed in a locked position for use, and in an unlocked position in order to fold the toothbrush 10 for ease of packing, for instance, packing in a suitcase in order to go on a trip.

The handle 20 includes a generally curved portion 24 and a generally straight portion 26. The generally curved portion 24 provides overreach protection. The generally curved portion 24 and the generally straight portion 26 form a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and thus define a closed aperture A. The generally straight portion 26 extends linearly beyond the closed semi-circular handle 20 forming a bridge 30 which typically is an integral part of the handle 20 and from which the brush head 40, also typically an integral part of the handle 20, continues.

Due to the aperture A, the generally curved portion 24 has a surface inside the aperture A and a surface outside the aperture A. Also, due to the aperture A, the generally straight portion 26 has a surface inside the aperture A and a surface outside the aperture A. The generally curved portion 24 provides over insertion protection, and the distance from its surface outside the aperture A to its surface inside the aperture A should be about 5 mm to about 8 mm, more particularly about 6 mm to about 7 mm.

The greatest distance from the generally curved portion 24, on its surface outside the aperture, to the generally straight portion 26, on its surface outside the aperture A, should be from about 45 mm to about 60 mm, more particularly from about 47 mm to about 58 mm, for an adult's toothbrush, and from about 25 mm to about 35 mm, more particularly from about 27 mm to about 33 mm, for a child's toothbrush.

The ratio of the length of the bridge 30 plus the length of the brush head 40 to the length of the generally straight portion 26 of the handle 20 should be from about 0.9 to about 1.5, more particularly from about 1 to about 1.4, where the higher ratios are preferred for an adult's toothbrushes and the lower ratios are preferred for a child's toothbrushes.

The generally straight portion 26 has a region wherein the generally straight portion 26 is provided, on its surface inside the aperture A, with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas F1, F2, and F3 (see, FIG. 1), or four finger engaging areas F1, F2, F3, and F4 (see, FIG. 2), and also, wherein the generally straight portion 26 is provided, on its surface outside the aperture A, which is the bottom of the toothbrush 10, with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area TT1 and a first finger tip engaging area FT1. The finger engaging areas F1, F2, F3 or F1, F2, F3, and F4, together with the thumb tip engaging area TT1 and the first finger tip engaging area FT1, provide good first gripping.

To illustrate an optional embodiment, part of the generally straight portion 26 of the toothbrush 10 containing the finger engaging areas F1, F2, F3 or F1, F2, F3, and F4 is designated as part FP, and part of the generally straight portion 26 of the toothbrush 10 containing the thumb tip engaging area TT1 and the first finger tip engaging area FT1 is designated as part TP. Optionally, one or both of the part FP or the part TP may be constructed of resilient synthetic polymeric material, i.e., resilient plastic, instead of rigid plastic, in order to enhance good first gripping.

The greatest distance for the generally straight portion 26 from its surface outside the aperture A to its surface inside the aperture A should range from about 15 mm to about 24 mm, more particularly from about 18 mm to about 21 mm. The vertical distance (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, i.e., dotted line in FIG. 3, of the toothbrush 10) from a horizontal line through the bottom of any of areas TT1 or FT1 to a horizontal line through the bottom of any of areas F1, F2, F3 or F1, F2, F3, and F4 depends on the greatest distance for the generally straight portion 26 from its surface outside the aperture A to its surface inside the aperture A, and in general is about 5 to 6 mm less than the greatest distance for the generally straight portion 26 from its surface outside the aperture A to its surface inside the aperture A. Thus, the vertical distance may be, for instance, from about 10 mm to about 19 mm, or from about 13 mm to about 16 mm.

As noted above, the toothbrush 10 has a longitudinal axis, going from the end of the toothbrush 10 having the brush head 40 to the opposite end of the toothbrush 10. In general, the inventive toothbrush 10 has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion 26 of the handle 20, the bridge 30, and the brush head 40, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3, however, depicts another embodiment of the inventive toothbrush 10 like that depicted in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, but having a longitudinal axis that is angled. More particularly, the brush head 40 is angled, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the generally straight portion 26 of the handle 20 and the bridge 30, i.e., (see, the horizontal dotted line in FIG. 3), downward towards the bottom of the toothbrush 10 from approximately 10° to approximately 20°, more particularly from approximately 12° to approximately 18°, and even more particularly at approximately 15°.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the inventive toothbrush, which may be the toothbrush of FIG. 1 (but FIG. 4 does not show the optional opening OP or the optional tail 45), FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, and showing one variation of the shape, generally wavy, of the sides SI of the region of the generally straight portion 26 having the finger tip engaging areas F1, F2, F3 or F1, F2, F3, and F4 and the thumb tip engaging area TT1 and the first finger tip engaging area FT1.

FIG. 5 is another bottom plan view of the inventive toothbrush, which may be the toothbrush of FIG. 1 (but FIG. 5 does not show the optional opening OP or the optional tail 45), FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, and showing another variation of the shape, generally straight, of the sides S2 of the region of the generally straight portion 26 having the finger tip engaging areas F1, F2, F3 or F1, F2, F3, and F4 and the thumb tip engaging area TT1 and the first finger tip engaging area FT1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the inventive toothbrush. which may be the toothbrush of FIG. 1 (but FIG. 6 does not show the optional opening OP or the optional tail 45), FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, and showing one variation of the shape, generally straight, of the side edges E1 of the generally curved portion 24 of the handle 20.

Accordingly, the structure of the inventive toothbrush 10 helps facilitate its being grasped by the hand, for instance by a handicapped person with a physical impairment (such as a person with arthritis), a health care worker who is brushing the teeth of a nursing home patient (such as a patient with dementia), a young child, et cetera, and also, helps facilitate wrist flexion. In particular, the inventive toothbrush 10 helps facilitate wrist flexion when the person doing the brushing is different from the person whose teeth are being brushed, for instance, when a health care worker is brushing the teeth of a nursing home patient, as the person doing the brushing can grasp the inventive toothbrush 10 by way of grasping the generally curved portion 24 through the aperture A.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in detail with regard to only a few embodiments of the invention as depicted in the drawings, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed. Various modifications, omissions, and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, it is intended to cover all such modifications, omissions, additions, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A toothbrush comprising: a handle of generally rigid construction having a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture, where the generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, where the generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, and the generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area, a bridge, and a brush head, having an array of bristles affixed to the brush head.
 2. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the generally straight portion extends linearly beyond the closed semi-circular handle forming the bridge whereby the bridge is an integral part of and unitary with the handle, and the brush head continues from the bridge whereby the brush head is an integral part of and unitary with the handle.
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle, the bridge, and the brush head.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle and the bridge, and the toothbrush has the brush head angled from approximately 10° to approximately 20° with respect to the longitudinal axis.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 4, where the brush head is angled from approximately 12° to approximately 18°.
 6. The toothbrush of claim 5, where the brush head is angled approximately 15°.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 1, where from the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 45 mm to about 60 mm, for an adult's toothbrush.
 8. The toothbrush of claim 7, where from the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 47 mm to about 58 mm.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 1, where from the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 25 mm to about 35 mm, for a child's toothbrush.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 9, where from the outside surface of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 27 mm to about 33 mm.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the brush head has a length, the bridge has a length, and the straight portion of the handle has a length, and the length of the brush head plus the length of the bridge to the length of the generally straight portion of the handle has a ratio from about 0.9 to about 1.5.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the brush head has a length, the bridge has a length, and the straight portion of the handle has a length, and the length of the brush head plus the length of the bridge to the length of the generally straight portion of the handle has a ratio from about 1 to about 1.4.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the region of the generally straight portion, having the finger engaging areas and the thumb tip engaging area and the first finger tip engaging area, has sides that are generally wavy.
 14. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the region of the generally straight portion, having the finger engaging areas and the thumb tip engaging area and the first finger tip engaging area, has sides that are generally straight.
 15. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the curved portion has side edges that are generally straight.
 16. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the generally curved portion defines a distance from its surface outside the aperture to its surface inside the aperture from about 5 mm to about 8 mm.
 17. The toothbrush of claim 16, where the generally curved portion defines a distance from its surface outside the aperture to its surface inside the aperture from about 6 mm to about 7 mm.
 18. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from its surface outside the aperture to its surface inside the aperture from about 15 mm to about 24 mm.
 19. The toothbrush of claim 18, where the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from its surface outside the aperture to its surface inside the aperture from about 18 mm to about 21 mm.
 20. The toothbrush of claim 1, where one or both, of the part of the generally straight portion having the finger engaging areas and the part of the generally straight portion having the thumb tip engaging area and the first finger tip engaging area, is constructed of resilient synthetic polymeric material.
 21. The toothbrush of claim 1, where the toothbrush is provided, at its longitudinal end opposite from the end having the brush head, with a storage means chosen from one or both of an opening or a tail.
 22. A toothbrush comprising: a handle of generally rigid construction having a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture, where the generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, where the generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, and the generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and wherein the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area, a bridge, and a brush head, having an array of bristles affixed to the brush head, and where the toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle, the bridge, and the brush head, and where from the outside surface outside of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 45 mm to about 60 mm for an adult's toothbrush and from about 25 mm to about 35 mm for a child's toothbrush.
 23. A toothbrush comprising: a handle of generally rigid construction having a generally curved portion and a generally straight portion, forming a closure in the shape of an approximate semi-circle, and defining an aperture, where the generally curved portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, where the generally straight portion has a surface inside the aperture and a surface outside the aperture, and the generally straight portion has a region wherein the inside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define three finger engaging areas or four finger engaging areas, and wherein the outside surface of the generally straight portion is provided with a wavy surface that has a series of side by side depressions that define a thumb tip engaging area and a first finger tip engaging area, a bridge, and a brush head, having an array of bristles affixed to the brush head, and where the toothbrush has a generally straight longitudinal axis for the generally straight portion of the handle and the bridge, and the toothbrush has the brush head angled from approximately 10° to approximately 20° with respect to the longitudinal axis, and where from the outside surface outside of the generally curved portion to the outside surface of the generally straight portion defines a greatest distance from about 45 mm to about 60 mm for an adult's toothbrush and from about 25 mm to about 35 mm for a child's toothbrush. 